Funnel



Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

- HAR-RY L. MULLEN, or BALTiMoRni/rnRYLANn.;

FUNNEL.

Application filed February 3, 1923. Serial No. 616,719.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY L. MULLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, l have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Funnels, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention is a funnel intended more particularly for use in filling the radiators of automobiles, and the object of the invention is to produce a funnel which may be used upon the lilling collar of any radiator and be firmly supported in position thereon. The invention resides inl certain novel features which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved Jfunnel in operative position; F ig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing parts of the retaining devices in perspective and in disassembled relation. The body 1 of the funnel is preferably elliptical at its upper end and tapers to and vterminates in a circular nozzle or spout 2. The body is preferably made of sheet metal and at the juncture of the body with the v3o nozzle or spout, I provide a screen or filter 3. Upon the sides of the body, I secure base plates 4 having their lower ends arranged immediately adjacent the upper end of the nozzle or spout 2 and provided at their said lower ends with lugs or ears 5.

Clamping members 6 are pivotally supported upon the base plate 4 by pivot pins or rivets 7 inserted through the lugs or ears 5 and similar lugs or ears 8 upon the clamping member, and it will be readily noted that a clamping member is provided upon each side of the funnel. Springs 9 are, coiled around the pivot pins 7 and have their ends bearing upon or secured.l to the base plates 4 and the clamping members 6, respectively, so that they normally hold the lower ends of the clamping members to the spout 2, as will be readily understood upon reference to Fig. 2. The upper ends of the clamping members 6 are curved outwardly, as shown at 10, to provide convenient thumb pieces and their lower ends are projected inwardly, as shown at 11, to form stops or jaws adapted to bear against the spout or nozzle. A jaw- 12 Vconsisting of a bowed resilient strip of metal is secured upon the inner face of each clamping member 6 at the lower end thereof and rests upon the stop 11, as shown. This resilient jaw is adapted to fit around the filling collar 13 of a radiator 14, and its bowed shape, together with its resilient quality, will permit it to easily engage collars of various diameters so that a single nozzle may be used upon a wide range of radiators.

When a radiator is to be iilled, the closureof the radiator collar is removed and my improved funnel is placed in position upon the collar with the nozzle or spout 2 itting within the same. To place the funnel 1n position, a slight pressure is exerted upon the upper ends of the clamping members 6 so that the lower ends thereof and the jaws 12. carried thereby will be moved away from the nozzle or spout 2 a sufficient distance to permit the nozzle or spout to enter the filling collar of the radiator with the clamping members at the outer side of the collar. When the pressure upon the upper ends of the clamping members is relieved` the springs bearing upon said members willswing them into engagement with the radiator collar so that the funnel will be firmly supported and will not require attention on the part of the user. The radiator may then be lled without any liability of the funnel being displaced. My improved device is exceedmgly slmple and inexpensive, may be very easily applied to or removed from a radiator filling collar `and will be found hlghly eiicient for the purpose for which 1t is designed.

Preferably, the external diameter of the nozzle is less than the internal diameter of the radiator collar so that an open space is left between them. By watching this space, the operator is enabled to avoid overflowing.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new is:

1. funnel provided with a nozzle, a clamping membe pivotally mounted upony the side of the funnel and having its lower end provided with an inwardly projecting invention,

jaw and disposed adjacent thel nozzle, and

yieldable means secured between the side of member and extending laterally beyond the side edges thereof, and a spring secured be tween the funnel and the clamping member 10 and Loting upon the clamping member whereby to hold the said jew normally toward the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature HARRY L. MULLEN. [n sf] 

